Very often the names of men who change the way we look at sports become lost as time passes, with nary a footnote in history. Such a man was George Ross, who died Oct. 3 in Portola in the Sierra foothills. He was 98.

The name George Ross is likely unrecognizable to a current generation of sports fans, but he played a huge role in giving Oakland, his hometown, a big-league image as the Oakland Tribune sports editor in the 1960s and 1970s.

Not only did Ross nurture the Oakland Raiders during their ugly early years, he helped convince Charles O. Finley to move his Kansas City Athletics to Oakland. Then Ross persuaded Franklin Mieuli to relocate his San Francisco Warriors in Oakland. And Ross was so instrumental in getting the Coliseum Complex built, he was invited to participate in the groundbreaking.

Few sports journalists have such clout.

"He meant a lot to Oakland," George Vukasin, former president of Coliseum Inc., said of Ross. "He was key to every sports team in Oakland. He was pro-Oakland, a great fan of our teams. If I had a problem, I'd call George, and he would have the answer. He was very significant."

Ross graduated from Fremont High in Oakland in 1935. He later joined the Tribune in 1953 and became its sports editor in 1961, the year after the Raiders played their first game. He patiently saw them through a 19-game losing streak, then was part of the group that interviewed Al Davis for the position of Raiders general manager and head coach in 1963. So trusted was Ross by Raiders owners they included him in the interviewing of Davis, another rarity in sports journalism.

Davis brought respectability to the Raiders, and Ross helped put Oakland on the major-league map. The Raiders won their first Super Bowl during the 1976 season, the A's won three consecutive World Series from 1972 to 1974, and the Warriors won the NBA championship in 1975. Ross' vision for his native Oakland was realized.

Ross had a giving heart as well as a perceptive mind. Tom Flores was a Raiders quarterback in the 1960s before coaching the team to two Super Bowl victories. But in 1962, he sat out the season because of tuberculosis.

"I was lost and broke," said Flores, now a Raiders radio game analyst. "George created a position for me [as a guest columnist covering Raider games]. He couldn't pay me a salary, but he arranged for gift certificates, which gave our family a Christmas. George was a unique guy. Besides his passion for what he did, he cared about the people around him - he was one of us."

After 14 years as sports editor, his mission, in effect, accomplished, Ross became assistant managing editor at the Tribune before rising to managing editor. Then in 1979 he retired and moved to Graeagle, two hours west of Truckee, with his wife, Helene, whom he met at Fremont High and who kept a perfect scorebook at baseball games while her husband was working in the press box. The couple had no children.

In his new life in Plumas County, Ross became a familiar figure, serving as councilman in Graeagle, becoming a state park docent, teaching mineralogy, building a fire ring around Graeagle, and helping reintroduce giant sequoia trees into the northern Sierra Nevada, including on his own property. An outdoorsman to the core, he fished, he hiked, he backpacked, and he loved flying his single-engine Cessna. After 50 years of marriage, Helen died, and Ross never remarried.

"George was one of the best," said Frank McCullough, former Los Angeles Times managing editor who was a University of Nevada graduate like his good friend from Oakland. "One of the qualities that made George unique -- he's personally and journalistically honest. It's giving the public the most honest appraisal you can. He's the guy at the top of the mountain."

Some in the media labeled Ross as a mother hen who was too soft on the Raiders in their formative years. But feathers flew in the henhouse when Ross discovered that Al Davis had gone behind the back of principal Raiders owner Wayne Valley, who had hired him, and cajoled the team's other majority owner, Ed McGah, into signing a rollover contract that bound Davis to the Raiders in perpetuity.

When Ross discovered this chicanery, he interviewed McGah and asked him three times if he had read the contract's language before signing it. When McGah finally admitted he hadn't, Ross wrote the explosive story and permanently damaged his close friendship with Davis. The two men never spoke again. Ross had paid the price for telling the truth, though regretting for the rest of his life the schism between him and Davis.

Ross' unimpeachable ethics were passed down to his underlings at the Tribune.

"I learned more about the newspaper business from him than anyone else," said former Tribune sportswriter Dave Lovecchio. 'He always said it didn't take any longer to do the job right the first time. He was right."

Another Tribune sports scribe, Denise Tom, remembered Ross as "tough and kind. Sounds like an oxymoron. Not for George, who was always gentle and encouraging."

Former Tribune managing editor Eric Newton, as a young journalist, handed Ross a story he had written. After reading it, Ross said: " 'Bent nails. It gets better if you build more cabinets.' I think about that every time I unbend a mangled phrase or nail on a new end to a sentence. Which is to say I remember George every day, and I suppose I always will."

And a Tribune columnist whose name appears atop this obituary was given the following sage advice from Ross about writing a column: "You know what makes for a successful columnist? When the reader gets from the top of the column to the bottom more days than not. And you know what makes for a successful column? When the reader says, 'I didn't know that.' " He couldn't have been more accurate.

Ross was born on New Year's Day 1917. He graduated from Nevada in 1946 after spending four years in the Navy during World War II, rising in rank to ensign and taking flight training for the first time. Ross worked for the Ely, Nev., Daily Times out of college, and then the Placerville Mountain Democrat before coming home to the Tribune. Late in his life, the Reynolds School of Journalism at Nevada established the George S. Ross Endowment Scholarship for journalism students on the Reno campus. And in 2014, Ross was named a Distinguished Alumnus by his university.

Ross's life took two distinct turns -- city kid and country lover. He was equally comfortable in both environments. But a heart attack in 2004 and a stroke in 2009 necessitated his moving out of his Graeagle home and into the East Plumas Care Center in Portola, where he died peacefully.

"He was community-oriented," said Shelley Castleton, his caregiver for the last 14 years of his life. "He was quite a historian of the area. He built a blacksmith shop and chopped his own firewood into his 80s. He was not a judgmental person -- he never put anybody down. He had so much integrity and honor. His neighbors loved him."

Ross leaves behind four nephews and a niece -- Jack (Bonnie) Ross of Astoria, Ore., Don (Faith) Ross of Galt, Bob (Jackie) Ross of Manteca, Randy (Pam) Ross of Pleasanton, and Susan (Bill) Brown of Santa Rosa.

"He was the archetypal uncle," said Jack Ross. "He took his nephews and niece to ball games, on fishing trips and on flights in his Cessna. My backpacking trips with Uncle George, then in his 50s, are among my fondest memories."

Ross was cremated, but there will be a memorial service, appropriately, at the Tribune Tavern, 401 13th St., Oakland, on Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m.

Retired Oakland Tribune journalist Dave Newhouse was hired by George Ross at the Tribune in 1964. Ross was his mentor, then his friend for the rest of the Ross' life.

Send us your Memorable Sports Moment or SportsPulse and we will share them with our readers. Write: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com. 

Azel Wendell Grasty

-- Oaktown Pirate

 

I grew up in Chester, Pennsylvania. My father was a chef and restaurant owner and my mother worked in a correctional facility for girls. In December of 1974, I joined the military in the delayed entry program and served in the US Army for two years as an Electronic Communications Technician. I also worked for the US Coast Guard as an Aircraft Electrician, wiring spy planes at the Naval Air Reworks Facility (NARF).

 

I have eleven years of experience coaching youth sports, including football, basketball and baseball. I worked my way up from coach to president of the football organization and commissioner of a youth football league.

 

I am not a sports fan. This is a lifestyle for me. During my younger years I was a Philadelphia Eagles fan. However, after learning how Mr. Al Davis became an entrepreneur in the sport of football, I became interested in the Oakland Raiders. This lifestyle has put me in a position where I can make children smile and people who are down and out can find a few moments of happiness when being greeted by Oaktown Pirate.

 

During football season and during the off-season, I participate in charity events, sports events, fundraisers, birthday parties, and other activities as the Oaktown Pirate. Some fan group activities I recently attended are Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Oakland Raiders Blood Drive, ESPN Commercial and local media interviews, Oakland Running Festival Cheering Station, Standing Against Violence Day in the Park, and other events throughout Northern California and beyond.

 

[Oaktown Pirate passed away suddenly on October 15, 2014. It was a shock to all his friends and family. Mr. Grasty is survived by his three children, Angela, Azel, Jr. and James S. Grasty.]

 

Remembrance

By Ed Jay

When I first met Oaktown Pirate, I wasn't sure how he would react to someone new to the Raider Nation. In a few short seconds, I was welcomed as a family member. In the years that I saw him at charity events, tailgates and games, he was never without an infectious smile and a wink in his eye.

 

He loved to give joy to young children and disarmed them with his character. However, I think he received more from the kids, as they warmed his heart and made him smile! On the Sunday before he died, I made my usual trek to his seat, exchanged pre-game pleasantries and knew that all would be well and he would be swaying to the song Oaktown, during the game. We were all shocked when he died a few days later.

 

I attended his funeral and it was clearly evident that he was greatly loved, as the outpouring never ended. He will be dearly missed as a friend, father, mentor, companion and as Oaktown Pirate.

 

Oaktown Pirate is fondly remembered as an Oakland Raiders Super Fan who added excitement and delight to attending Raiders games. Photo by Ed Jay. 

Send us your Memorable Sports Moment or Sports Pulse and we will share them with our readers. Write: theultimatesportsguide@gmail.com. 

Glenn Rivers is one of the most respected men in the NBA. A fierce competitor as a player and a feisty, combative and often contentious presence on the bench, "Doc" Rivers is not displaying a bedside manner these days. Quite the contrary, the oft-embattled head coach of the LA Clippers is throwing out incendiary comments like confetti three weeks before the NBA season starts. "You need luck in the West. Look at Golden State," said Rivers recently. "They didn't have to play us or the Spurs."

Uh, maybe your choice of words wasn't the best, Doc. If there's one thing anyone who's been involved with sports at any level--especially the highest--should know, you make your own "luck." Sure, the Warriors were lucky, but they were also good--very good. As the venerable trailblazing radio sports guru Jim Rome is so fond of saying in these situations, scoreboard.

When his Clippers took down the mighty Spurs in last season's playoffs, Doc was on top of the world. It was the high point of the franchise's mostly dysfunctional history, coming exactly one year after the Donald Sterling mess threatened to take down the entire organization. And when they were up in the conference semis 3-2, 15 minutes from closing out the Houston Rockets, it seemed like a done deal that they would meet the Warriors, and maybe, just maybe, slide into the NBA finals, and breathe that rarefied air they had only dreamt about.

And then fate intervened. Even with the advantage of exhausted and ineffective superstar James Harden on the Rockets' bench, Rivers helplessly watched in stunned silence while his team blew a 19-point lead--at home. No one was surprised when the Clippers didn't show up for game 7. They slinked off into summer, architects of one of the biggest chokes in NBA history.

Don't be a sore loser, Doc, it doesn't become you. Much has been made of the fact that the Warriors did not have to play either the Clip Joint or Gregg Popovich's pass-first cyborgs in last year's playoffs; much more has been made of the fact that the W's did not have to play one healthy starting point guard in all four series: Jrue Holiday (New Orleans), Mike Conley (Memphis), Patrick Beverley (Houston) and Kyrie Irving (Cleveland). So? Golden State proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were the best team (67 wins!) in the regular season, followed by a gaudy 16-5 in the post-season. Scoreboard.

"Didn't they lose to the Rockets? Ha ha, that just makes me laugh. That's funny. Weren't they up 3-1, too? Yeah, tell them I said that. That's funny, man. That's funny. That's funny."  

 

Klay Thompson has a lot to learn, not only about playing off-guard in the NBA at a consistent level, but about when to speak up in public. His response to Rivers was unnecessary and ineloquent. ("That's funny" four times in one short paragraph?) There is no need to play around in the muck with Rivers, Klay. Let your game speak for itself.

And it may behoove him to listen to two-time MVP and NBA legend Steve Nash, whenever Nash deigns to make himself available to the Warriors. Talk about the rich getting richer. Nash's pedigree, presence, insight and positive energy can only help, especially with Thompson. If there's one tangible aspect of Klay's game that needs improvement, it's the intangible--consistency. He nearly disappeared in the playoffs--both before and after that awful concussion when he took Trevor Ariza's knee to his head--and the Warriors still won each series handily. Imagine how fearsome they could be with a focused, inspired off guard who is already-along with his backcourt mate, MVP Steph Curry--arguably one of the two best shooters in the league.

One may argue that the Warriors have a target on their back this season. Excuse me, but didn't they have a target on them last year after they started out 21-2? I submit that the Warriors are deeper and potentially better than last year. David Lee's leadership is gone to Boston, but he hardly played last year. The starting five is intact; Barnes and Green are a year older and brimming with confidence. Steve Nash will make Steph--in the best shape of his life--and Klay better. Bogut just needs to stay on the court 20 minutes a game. Finals MVP Andre Iguodala leads a second unit that is experienced and tough: Barbosa, Livingston, Ezeli and Speights. Add in newly acquired Jason Thompson, versatile James Michael McAdoo, both with something to prove, and a veteran microwave off the bench--Ben Gordon, who used to light up the W's all the time--and they are potentially 13 deep. This will be a very good team.

One may argue that there are three other very good teams, all improved, who will present a serious roadblock to the Warriors' plans to repeat as champions. Reality dictates we look at them without the filter of hometown prejudice, however difficult that may be.

LeBron has something to prove, and with the mercurial Irving, talented Timofey Mozgov, a healthy Kevin Love, the always unpredictable and dangerous J.R. Smith, offensive rebounding machine Tristan Thompson, the veteran Anderson Varejao, and pesky backup guards Mo Williams and Matt Dellavedova, this is a loaded team. (Iman Shumpert is injured). But it is all about match ups, and my gut feeling is that Steve Kerr and his staff will have an answer, just like they did in last year's playoffs.

The Clippers? Let's see--they swapped out pugilistic Matt Barnes for Paul Pierce, who, as clutch as he is, turns 38 tomorrow. Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Jamal Crawford are as impressive as ever, but, as Magic Johnson put it after the aforementioned collapse last May, "they are still the Clippers." Lance Stephenson?! They might need chemotherapy.

That leaves the one team that has me the most worried; the Spurs. This corner ranks Gregg Popovich as the greatest coach in NBA history. In 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2006, after the Spurs exited in the conference semifinals, a frustrated Popovich vowed after each one of those losses that he'd be back the next year and "we'll see what happens." What happened? They won it all each of the next seasons. In 2013, when Ray Allen's three-pointer saved Miami and sunk the Spurs, Popovich--after offering perfunctory congratulations to the Heat--was apoplectic. So what did he do? Win it all in 2014--for the fifth time. And last season, once again, they lost in the conference semifinals to the Clippers. So this could be their year, yet again, and with the addition of David West and LaMarcus Aldridge they are as formidable as ever. I never count out Gregg Popovich, especially since this may actually be the final au revoir for the fleet Frenchman, Tony Parker, the indomitable Argentine Manu Ginobili and the ageless Tim Duncan. Watch out for this bunch. They have pride...

But the Golden State Warriors are the champs and until someone dethrones them, they have scoreboard!

Peter Elman

Rockridge

October 11, 2015

Pete Elman worked as a sportswriter for the Contra Costa Times  and

Oakland Tribune  from 2000 to 2011. In 1991 he came up with the iconic moniker RUN TMC ("Run Timmy, Mitch, Chris") for the Golden State Warriors of the early 1990s. He is currently publishing a children's picture book with music, titled Seasons, Rhymes in Time .  (chillincrowbooks.com).

 

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San Francisco

Abbey Tavern, 4100 Geary Street

The Blue Light, 1979 Union Street

Bus Stop, 1901 Union Street

The Chieftain, 198 5th Street

Danny Coyle's, 668 Haight Street

Dave's, 29 Third Street @ Kearny

Final Final, 2990 Baker @ Lombard

The Holding Company, #2 Embarcadro Center

Il Pirata, 2007 16th Street

Jake's Steaks, 3301 Buchanan Street

Jullian's, 101 4th Street

The Kezar Pub, 770 Stanyan Street

Mad Dog in the Fog, 530 Haight Street

Mucky Duck, 1315 9th Avenue

Nickie's Bar, 466 Haight Street

Players Sports Grill, Pier 39, Buildings L & M

Polo Grounds, 747 3rd Street

 

East Bay

Brennan's Restaurant, 4th & University, Berkeley

Churchward Pub, 1515 Park Street, Alameda

City Beach, 4020 Technology Place, Fremont

Crogan's Montclair, 6101 La Salle Avenue, Oakland

Cue & Brew, 1029 Arnold Drive, #6, Martinez

Dan's Irish Sports Bar, 1524 Civic Street, Walnut Creek

Diamonds Sports Bar & Grill, 77 Hegenberger, Oakland

Ed's Mudville Grill, 6200 Center Street, Clayton

The Englander, 101 Parrott Street, San Leandro  

Evie's, 7138 Village Parkway, Dublin

Francesco's Restaurant, 8520 Pardee Drive, Oakland

Frank's Saloon, 2014 Marina Blvd., San Leandro

Funky Monkey, 22554 Main Street, Hayward

George & Walt's, 5445 College Avenue, Oakland

Grand Oaks Restaurant, 3701 Grand Avenue, Oakland

Go Sports Bar, 736 Washington Street, Oakland

Ivy Room, 860 San Pablo Avenue, Albany

Kingfish, 5227 Claremont, Oakland

Linguini's Pizza & Brew, 1508 Park Street, Alameda

Livermore Casino Sports Bar, 3571 First Street, Livermore

McCovey's Restaurant, 1444 N. California, Walnut Creek

Mr. Lucky's Bar & Grill, 1527 Locust Street. Walnut Creek

Oakland Moose Club, 690 Hegenberger Road

Oaks Corner, 4099 San Pablo, Emeryville

Otaez Mexican Restaurant, 1619 Webster Street, Alameda

Pacific Coast Brewing Co., 906 Washington Street, Oakland

Pasta Pelican, 2455 Mariner Square Drive, Alameda

Pete's Place, 610A San Pablo Avenue, Pinole

Rancho Sports Bar, 3912 San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante

Ricky's Sports Grill, 15028 Hesperian Blvd., San Leandro

Sports Edition Bar, Hilton Oakland Airport, Oakland

Stadium Pub, 1420 Lincoln Avenue, Walnut Creek

Tierney's Sports Bar, 540 San Pablo Avenue, Albany

WPLJ's Dance Club, 2112 North Main Street, Walnut Creek

 

Brisbane

7 Mile House, 2800 Bayshore Blvd.

 

Burlingame 

The American Bull Bar & Grill, 1819 El Camino Real

Knuckles Historical Sports Bar, Hyatt Regency, Burlingame

 

Campbell 

Capers Eat & Drink, 1710 West Campbell   

 

Fair Oaks

Players Sports Pub, 4060 Sunrise Blvd.

 

Half Moon Bay 

Cameron's Restaurant Pub & Inn, 1410 South Cabrillo Hwy

Half Moon Bay Brewing Co., 390 Capistrano Road

 

Foster City 

The Club House Bistro, 1221 Chess Drive  

 

Palo Alto 

Sundance The Steakhouse, 1921 El Camino Real

 

Point Richmond

Up & Under, 2 West Richmond Avenue   

 

San Jose 

Bay 101 Casino, 1801 Bering Drive

Britannia Arms, 5027 Almaden Expressway

Britannia Arms, 173 West Santa Clara

Britannia Arms, 1087 De Anza Blvd.    

 

San Rafael 

Pete's 881, 721 Lincoln Avenue

 

Santa Clara

City Beach, 2911 Mead Avenue

 

Santa Cruz 

One Double Oh Seven Club, 1007 Soquel Avenue    

 

Vacaville 

Stars Recreation Center, 155 Browns Valley Parkway